Chapter Forty-Two: Remaining at the Post House

General Feng Yucai responded with calm dignity, saying, “Marshal Wanlü, you are not the Emperor of Liao Ancient Kingdom. Our Emperor is waiting for you to pay respects tomorrow—surely your emperors do not personally greet foreign envoys themselves, do they?”

Wanlü the Invincible showed little reaction, replying with continued disdain, “Do you have any warriors? Will you still be so bold tomorrow?”

Feng Yucai answered, “That is a question you should ask yourself. You may have your champion, but we have heroes from Jiangnan as well.”

Wanlü the Invincible said nothing further, but prevented the impulsive Xiaoliba from acting out, and said to Feng Yucai, “Very well, I hope your so-called warriors will at least give my champion a chance to stretch his limbs.”

With that, he entered the guest house. Feng Yucai and his men, with a dismissive snort, paid them no further heed.

…

That afternoon, Zhang Desen remained in the base, meticulously organizing the newly acquired materials, searching for anything the Liu Family Trading Company could potentially replicate. Though few items could be copied at present, every small advance was valuable.

Among these were inventions such as the flying shuttle and the spinning jenny from the first industrial revolution. If these could be reproduced, the strength of the Liu Family Trading Company would rise by more than a notch. This would help bridge the technology gap between humanity and those highly advanced, terrifying beings that dominated the universe. For those primitive tribes, it would also establish a significant technological edge, so Zhang Desen took special care in arranging these materials.

At that moment, Zhao Chengming entered the ship to find Zhang Desen. “Brother Desen, keeping busy, I see!”

Zhang Desen, seeing it was Zhao Chengming, immediately replied, “Ah, Brother Chengming, please sit down. Let me get you some water.”

Zhao Chengming sat but waved off the offer. “No need, Brother Desen. I have to leave soon because Miss Liu Yuting will be going out. Apart from her personal maid, no one is allowed to accompany her. So the master asked me to quietly follow and make sure nothing happens to her.”

Zhang Desen was taken aback. “Why? Is there something Miss Liu needs to buy herself? She hardly seems to lack for anything.”

Zhao Chengming chuckled. “Ah, you and your lost counterpart are truly different. If I didn’t know where you came from, I’d wonder whether falling off a cliff could really change a man’s whole character.”

Feigning annoyance, Zhang Desen retorted, “Hey, Brother Chengming, the jury’s still out on that! How can you—”

Zhao Chengming interrupted with a laugh. “Alright, let me be honest. I’m sure Miss Liu is going out to buy something for you, or perhaps some fine fabric to make you new clothes.”

Zhang Desen cut in immediately, “Are you certain of that?”

Zhao Chengming burst out laughing. “Come now! You’re a good man, a gallant hero, and your counterpart looks just like you—your charm is doubled! There’s no way Miss Liu could be indifferent. Besides, she’s famous as a beauty in town. What’s not to like?”

Now, Zhang Desen felt a little embarrassed. In his original universe, he had always been preoccupied with work, never finding time for romance, so matters of the heart were a blank page to him. He did have feelings for Miss Liu Yuting, but with so many pressing problems, he was accustomed to focusing on work and solving crises first.

...

So he had never considered how she might feel. But after Zhao Chengming’s words, Zhang Desen realized he ought to give the matter some thought.

Just then, Zhao Chengming stood up. “Well, Miss Liu must be nearly ready. Think it over—see you later!” Without waiting for a response, he slipped away.

...

Meanwhile, Marshal Wanlü the Invincible of Liao Ancient Kingdom was seated at a table in the guest house in Western Capital. Opposite him sat a towering, nearly three-meter-tall giant of a man—the kingdom’s champion, Xiaoliba.

Xiaoliba waited in silence for Wanlü to speak. After a pause, the marshal began, “General Xiaoliba, do you think you can defeat the warriors of these southerners?”

Xiaoliba waved his arms enthusiastically. “Warriors? What warriors? In Haijin and Luge, I’ve never met a match. Anyone who challenged me ended up dead or crippled. None there could stand against me, let alone these southerners.”

Wanlü replied, “Very well. But don’t forget, a strange hero in unusual garb has recently appeared here—he captured Huabulu and all his men. If the southerners lose tomorrow, that hero may show up. Be careful.”

Xiaoliba scoffed, “Huabulu was always useless, bottom of our ranks, only fit for shady errands. In truth, he lived like a coward…”

He clenched his right fist. “If that so-called hero dares interfere, I’ll settle all scores at once. I’ll break both his hands and show him the might of Liao Ancient Kingdom’s warriors.”

Wanlü nodded. “Good. Tomorrow, we’ll let the southerners witness our strength. We’ll make them offer up their jewels and beauties, kneeling in submission.”

Suddenly, his tone changed. “Enough, let’s go out into the city for a look—and bring back a few things. Come!”

Xiaoliba immediately agreed. Wanlü, with Xiaoliba and five guards, headed for the guest house door. As they reached the entrance, five Daxing Kingdom soldiers barred the way. Their officer addressed Wanlü, “Forgive me, Marshal Wanlü, but by order of our Emperor, you are to remain in the guest house. No one may leave.”

Wanlü sneered, “Do you really think you can stop us? Look beside me—here stands our champion Xiaoliba. Are you blind?”

In truth, the officer was unnerved by the sight of the enormous Xiaoliba, but he replied, “Marshal, this is Daxing, not your kingdom. However mighty you are, could you withstand the united will of millions of my countrymen?”

Wanlü was surprised by the officer’s boldness, but unwilling to waste more time, signaled Xiaoliba to act.

Xiaoliba, receiving the cue, punched the officer squarely in the head. Caught off guard, the officer felt as if several horse-drawn carriages had crashed into him and was sent flying, unconscious.

...

The other soldiers, enraged at seeing their leader struck down, rushed forward recklessly, but none could withstand even a single blow from Xiaoliba. They were all soon beaten unconscious.

Xiaoliba was about to finish them off, but Wanlü stopped him. Seeing Xiaoliba’s confusion, he explained, “What good is killing a few useless men? Let them live to spread the tale of our warriors’ prowess—it will serve us better. Come, let’s go shopping.”

Xiaoliba, delighted, replied, “Yes, forgive my dullness. After you, Marshal.”

They strolled onto the streets of Western Capital. After some time, a guard rushed into General Feng Yucai’s residence with urgent news: “General, bad news! Marshal Wanlü and Champion Xiaoliba have injured our sentries at the guest house and are now roaming the streets.”

At once, Feng Yucai leaped up in fury, slamming the table. “What? Those Liao dogs dare insult our Daxing as if we have no men? Prepare my horse! Gather the guard at once—we’ll hunt down those arrogant Liao dogs!”

Without delay, General Feng Yucai personally led a squad of soldiers onto the streets to search for the two overbearing Liao envoys.

Meanwhile, Wanlü and Xiaoliba wandered the city, not causing trouble, but instead shopping from place to place. Eventually, they arrived outside a jewelry shop run by the Liu Family Trading Company.

Wanlü pointed it out to Xiaoliba. “General, look—Liu Family Trading Company.”

Xiaoliba scoffed, “Just a business, nothing special. I could—”

Wanlü stopped him. “It’s not so simple, General. The Liu Company’s enterprises are vast, even present in many countries including ours. If they were to withdraw from any land, ruin would follow. Such a country would be helpless.”

Xiaoliba protested, “It’s just a business! Our Liao Ancient Kingdom commands vast lands in the north—rich pastures, herds upon herds. Why should we care?”

Wanlü replied, “True, but why not bring them under our control?”

Xiaoliba asked, “Marshal, what do you mean?”

Wanlü smiled, “It’s said that Master Liu has only one daughter. I’ve already instructed Minister Qian—at tomorrow’s palace banquet, Master Liu is sure to bring her. As long as tomorrow…”

Xiaoliba exclaimed in admiration, “Brilliant! Marshal, your wisdom knows no bounds!”